Packaging, storage and display apparatus and system

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a packaging, storage and display system for articles, such as small tools, like drill bits and the like. An index for holding the articles is pivotably mounted in a case. A rack, which may be selected from a variety of rack structures, is mounted within the index, for holding articles having particular sizes and shapes. A frame structure is resistively pivotably mounted on the index, so that the frame structure may be pivoted to a particular position relative to the index, and will tend to remain in that position, until a force in excess of a particular amount is exerted on the frame structure. The index and/or the frame structures may be interchangeably mounted.

1 . A packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles, comprising: 
 a case, having at least one case section that defines an interior volume for receiving articles;    at least one index, pivotably mounted in the at least one case section, the at least one index being pivotably movable between a stowed position within the at least one case section, and a deployed position;    the at least one index being operably configured to receive and retain an end of at least one article;    a frame structure, pivotably mounted to the index;    rotation control structure interconnecting the frame structure and the index, operably configured to enable at least a portion of the frame structure to remain in a first position relative to the index until a force greater than a predetermined amount is applied, prompting the portion of the frame structure to move to one of a plurality of possible second positions relative to the index, and to further enable the portion of the frame structure to remain in the one of a plurality of second positions upon removal of the force, wherein the frame structure includes at least one surface which engages with a corresponding mating surface of the at least one index, and the rotation control structure comprises mating ratchet structures disposed on the at least one surface of the frame structure and the corresponding mating surface of the at least one index.    
   
   
       2 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotation control structure comprises: 
 at least one male ratchet member, disposed on one of the frame structure and the index, and having an first axis of pivoting, and a projecting contoured portion with contoured ratchet surfaces disposed circumferentially about the first axis of pivoting on a radially outwardly facing surface of the projecting contoured portion;    at least one female ratchet member, disposed on the other of the frame structure and the index, and having a second axis of pivoting, and a recess centered on the axis of pivoting, and a plurality of complementary contoured ratchet surfaces disposed circumferentially about the second axis of pivoting on a radially inwardly facing surface of the recess;    the at least one first male ratchet member being insertably received in the at least one female ratchet member, the first axis of pivoting being disposed coaxially with the second axis of pivoting.    
   
   
       3 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 2 , wherein the contoured ratchet surfaces of the male ratchet member comprise a plurality of convex projections.  
   
   
       4 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of complementary contoured ratchet surfaces of the female ratchet member comprise a plurality of concavities.  
   
   
       5 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 2 , wherein the contoured ratchet surfaces of the male ratchet member comprise a plurality of concavities.  
   
   
       6 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of complementary contoured ratchet surfaces of the female ratchet member comprise a plurality of convex projections.  
   
   
       7 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of complementary contoured ratchet surfaces of the female ratchet member and the contoured ratchet surfaces of the male ratchet member comprise complementary sets of radially extending projections.  
   
   
       8 . A packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles, comprising: 
 a case, having at least one case section that defines an interior volume for receiving articles;    at least one index, pivotably mounted in the at least one case section, the at least one index being pivotably movable between a stowed position within the at least one case section, and a deployed position;    the at least one index being operably configured to receive and retain an end of at least one article;    a frame structure, pivotably mounted to the index; and    at least one retaining pin, operably positioned in the at least one case section, for releasably engaging and retaining at least one of the frame structure and the at least one index when the at least one index is disposed in its stowed position.    
   
   
       9 . The packaging, storage and display apparatus for articles, according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one retaining pin comprises: 
 a central post, having a retaining arm extending laterally therefrom;    at least one flexible side leg, extending substantially parallel to the central post, and connected thereto by a transverse web;    at least one tooth, extending laterally from the at least one flexible leg, for frictionally engaging an inside surface of a retaining pin receiving aperture disposed in the at least one case section.    
   
   
       10 . A holder for packaging, storing and displaying articles, comprising: 
 an index, having positioned therewithin a rack which is operably configured to engage and releasably retain an end of at least one article;    a frame structure, pivotably mounted to the index;    rotation control structure interconnecting the frame structure and the index, for providing resistance to relative rotation between the frame structure and the index, until a torsional force is applied between the frame structure and the index which is in excess of a predetermined amount of torsional force is exerted, whereupon relative pivoting to is enabled, and whereupon removal of the torsional force, in excess of a predetermined amount of torsional force, the frame structure and the index will remain in position relative to each other.